Folding tent.



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onus PETERS co NO- I w. R. DIEHL'. FOLDING TENT.

PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908.

Arrmculox FILED MAY 24, 1901.

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PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908.

W. R. DIEHL. FOLDING, TENT. APPLIOATiON Hum MAY 24, 1907,

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UNITED sTATEs AgENT OFFICE.

WALTER R. DIEHL, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDWIN JOHNSON, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING TENT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER R. DIEIIL, a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tents, of which the following is a specification.

One object of this invention is to provide a portable tent or tent frame which may be folded into compact form so as to be readily handled and transported.

A further object is to arrange bunks with in the frame which fold and unfold therewith so that when the frame is set up or erected the bunks are in position for use, the same being supported entirely above the ground.

The invention also embodies certain im provements in the mode of mounting the bunks within the frame, and. in the means employed for maintaining the frame in erected position, all as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved tent frame erected and partially covered with convas, and Fig. 2 1s a similar view of the frame when folded. Figs. 3 and 4 are side elevations, taken at right angles to each other, of parts of one of the central uprights of the folding frame, showing the connections of the several parts thereto, also the means for maintaining the parts in erected position.

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the jointed connection between one of the legs and one of the lower bunks. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the joint to which the legs and eaves supporting arms are pivoted, and Fig. 8 is a similar view of one of the joints to which the intermediate bunks are pivoted. Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the devices carried by the intermediate bunks for connecting the supporting upright thereto. Fig. 10 is a detail of one of the joint members of the ridge pole to which the after arms and the pole supporting upright are connected, and Fig. 11 is an end view of the same. Fig. 12 is a top plan view of one of the joint members at the lower end of one of the uprights to which the lower bunks are pivoted.

Referring to the drawings, the main or folding portion of the tent frame as here illustrated consists of two pairs of legs 2, the

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 24, 1907.

Patented March 24, 1908.

Serial No. 375,442.

legs of each pair being pivoted at their upper ends at 2 to a joint member 3 and adapted to swing outwardly in diverging relation when the frame is erected, as shown in Fig. 1. Also pivoted at'4 to the opposite sides of joint member 3 are arms 4 having their outer ends connected by joint members 5 with the eaves forming bars or tubes 6.

Joint 3 is formed with vertical passage 7 and movable'therethrough is one of the main uprights 8. Secured to this upright is the joint member 9 from which projects the nose or lug 10 adapted to be engaged by ring 11 of bolt 11 depending from oint 3 for holding upright 8 in the raised position seen in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. I

Secured to the upper end of uprights 8 is fitting 12 formed with vertical passage 13, and movable through this passage is upright member 14, which in reality consti tutes a vertical extension of upright 8 and at its upper end supports the ridge pole 15, being connected thereto by coupling 16. Pivoted to the latter at 17 arethe rafter-forming arms 17 which are pivotally connected to eaves 6 by couplings 5.

When the frame is collapsed or folded, upright 14 is moved downwardly through coupling 12, as shown in Fig. 2, and for holding it raised, as when the frame is erected, the hook rods 18 depending from coupling 12 engage joint or coupling member 19 secured to the lower end of upright 14, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The opposite couplings 19 have the transverse connection 20, while couplings 9 are similarly connected at 21, and joint members 22 at the lower ends of uprights 8 have a corresponding cross connection 28. Pivoted to coupling 22 are the upwardly diverging braces 24 which at their upper ends are pivotally connected to the eaves supporting arms 4.

The parts thus far described comprise the main frame or skeleton of the folding tent which may be readily collapsed by releasing connections 11 and 18, causing legs 2 to fold together; arms 4 to fold downwardly and with them eaves 5; also the lowering of uprights 8 and 1.4, and with the latter ridge pole 15.

The bunks which are incorporated in the folding frame are preferably arranged in pairs, each bunk consisting of an outline frame within which may be arranged any suitable bed bottom 25, that here shown being of mesh formation. Coupling or joint connections 19, 21 and 23, respectively, form the inner side bars of bunks 32, 30 and 26.

The lowermost pair of bunks 26 are hinged at their inner edges to coupling members 22, and at points adjacent their outer edges are connected by joints 27 with legs 2. Each of these joints shown in Fig. 5, consists of a T-sha ed body portion 28, with its lateral branc forming a socket in which turns and from which projects the headed hinge member 29, secured to one of the end members 26 of bunk 26. Thus, when folding the frame, the lowering of upright 8 causes the inner edges of the bunks to turn downward, drawing their outer edges together with legs 2 into the compact form shown in Fig, 2. The intermediate bunks 30 are hinged to the joint members 9 in the same manner as bunks 26 are hinged to members 22. The outer portions of bunks 30 are supported by uprights 31 depending from couplings 32 to couplings 28, each upright having a ring 31 at its lower end for embracing hinge member 29, as shown in Fig. 5, while at the u per end of upright 31 is a similar ring 31 w iich is detachably secured to the lateral branch of T-coupling 32 by cap 32 With bunks 30 thus supported, they readily fold inward when the frame is collapsed, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The upper ends of uprights 31 may be disconnected, thus permitting bunks 30 to drop to inclined position, as seen at the right-hand side of Fig. 1, to form backs for the lower bunks 26, thereby converting the latter into comfortable seats.

The upper bunks 32 are hinged at their inner edges to couplings 19, with their outer ortions supported by the inclined braces 33 eading downwardly and inwardly to coupling members 9, thus permitting them to respond to the collapsing movement and folding them into the collapsed structure as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Pipe or tubes of suitable diameter are I preferably used for forming the legs, up-

rights, arms, and in fact all of the parts of the frame. The various couplings and joints are preferably secured to the parts which carry them by being s lit, with bolts clamping them thereto. T e tent when erected may be enlar ed by the eaves extensions 6 and ridge p0 e extension 15 suitably connected thereto respectively, with the outer extremities of the eaves extensions having the transverse connection 34, provided with the central end post 35, extending to the ridge pole extension, as shown. Obviously, the main or folding portion of the frame may be thus extended at either one or both ends as desired. Also, two or more of the improved folding frames may be connected together or combined under the same canvas,

thus enlarging the tent and increasing the sleeping accommodations to any desired proportions.

The invention is not restricted to the exact number and arrangement of the bunks here shown, and if desired the main portion of the folding frame may be utilized without the bunks. But with the bunks incorporated in the frame, a very complete tent for sleeping purposes is provided wherein the bunks are supported entirely above the ground and inwardly from the side walls, so that their position is as little ex osed as possible. The canvas roof and wa ls may be secured to the frame and anchor ropes 36 in any suitable manner.

I claim 2- I 1. A folding tent frame havin at each end a pair of downwardly diverging leg members pivotally connected at their upper ends, a pair of outwardly and oppositely extending arms at each end of the frame, said arms being pivotally united at their inner ends to the upper ends of the leg members, eaves members at the outer ends of said arms, a ridge member, and supports for the ridge member extending upwardly from the junctures of said arms and leg members at each end of the frame.

2. A folding tent frame having at each end a pair of downwardly diverging leg members pivotally connected at their upper ends and adapted to fold together, a pair of outwardly and oppositely extending arms at each end of the frame, said arms being pivotally connected at their inner ends to the upper end of said leg members and adapted to fold downwardly and together like the leg members, a ridge member, vertically movable ridge supports extending upwardly from the junctures of the pivotally connected arm and leg members, eaves members at the outer ends of said arms, and roof members pivotally connected to each of said eaves members and to the ridge member.

3. A folding tent frame having at each end pivotally connected leg members adapted to fold together, eaves members, a ridge member, and supports for the ridge and eaves members adapted to fold into compact relation with the folding leg members.

4. A folding tent frame having at each end leg members adapted to fold together, folding roof forming members adapted to fold into compact relation with the leg members, and folding bunk frames supported by the leg members and adapted to fold into compact relation with the folding leg and roof members.

5. A folding tent frame comprising joint members, downwardly diverging leg members hinged thereto and adapted to fold inward or toward each other, and roof sustaining members hinged to and extending out- 1 their upper ends to said last mentioned arms wardly from the oint members and adapted to turn downward and toward each other.

6. A folding tent frame comprising joint members, downwardly extending leg members hinged thereto and adapted to spread apart when unfolded, eaves supporting arms hinged to and extending outwardly from the joint members, ridge pole supports movable vertically through the joint members, means for holding the supports in raised position when the tent is erected, and pivoted con nections .between said supports and said arms and between said supports and the leg members, whereby all of said parts are adapted to fold together when not in use.

7. A folding tent frame comprisingfjoint' members, downwardly extending legs nged thereto and adapted to spread apart when the tent is erected, eaves supporting arms hinged to and extending outwardly from said joints, ridge pole supporting uprights movable vertically through said joints, means for holding the uprights in raised position, and jointed connections between the lower ends of the uprights and said arms and between the lower ends of the uprights and the legs, whereby said legs and arms are ada ted to fold downwardly and turn inward y into compact relation.

8. A folding tent frame comprising joint members, downwardly diverging legs hinged at their upper ends to said. joint members, outwardly extending eaves supporting arms hinged at their inner ends to the joint members, ridge pole supports movable vertically through the joint members, means for holding said supports in raised position, braces pivoted at their lower ends to said supports and at their upper ends having jointed. connection with said arms, and jointed connections between said supports and the legs, whereby when the ridge pole supports are lowered said arms are turned downward and inward and the legs are turned inward all into folded relation.

9. A folding tent frame comprising joint members. frame parts hinged thereto and ad apted to fold together, ridge pole supports movable vertically through the joint members, hangers depending from the joint members, and projections on said supports ad apted to be engaged by the hangers for holding the supports in raised position.

10. A folding tent frame comprising joint members, downwardly diverging legs pivoted. at their upper ends to said members, outwardly extending eaves supporting arms pivoted at their inner ends to said joints, a ridge pole, su porting uprights therefor movable throug said oints, means for holding the uprights raised, rafter members pivoted at one end to the upper ends of said u rights and at their outer ends pivoted to said eaves supporting arms, braces pivoted at and at their lower ends pivoted to said uprights, and jointed connections between the uprights and the legs, whereby the several frame parts are adapted to move together into folded relation.

11.v A folding tent comprising a supporting frame having its parts pivotally united and ada ted to fold. together when not in use, and bun (s supported by said frame and adapted to fold therewith.

12. A folding tent comprising a supporting.

frame having the parts thereof united by the joints and adapted to fold together, and bunks connected to different portions of the frame and adapted to fold therewith.

13. A folding tent comprising leg members, a ridge ole, a ridge pole support movable vertical y with relation to the legs, means for holding the support in raised position, and bunks hinged pivotally to the supports and to the legs.

14. A folding tent comprising a joint memher, legs pivoted at their upper ends to said member, a ridge pole, a ridge pole support movable vertically through said oint, means for holding the supports raised with relation to the oints, and bunks pivoted to the lower ends of the supports and to the legs.

15. A folding tent comprising diverging le s pivoted at their upper ends, a ridge pole, ri. ge pole sup orts movable vertically with relation to the egs and means for holding the supports raised, a pair of bunks pivoted at their inner edges to the lower extremities of the supports and also pivoted to the legs, a second pair of bunks above the first mentioned pair and pivoted at their inner edges to the uprights, and supports extending from the outer portions of the second pair of bunks downwar ly to the legs.

16. A folding tent com rising legs ivoted at their upper ends, a ri ge pole, ri ge pole sup orts each made in two sections movable one ongitudinally of the other, the lower section being movable vertically with relation to the pivoted legs and means for holding the lower section in raised position, a pair of bunks pivoted at their inner edges to the lower portions of the upper parts of said supports, arms pivoted to the outer portions of said bunks, said arms extending downwardly and inwardly and pivotally connected to the lower members of said supports, and means for holding the upper parts or members of said supports in raised position.

17. A folding tent comprising upright supports, a pair of bunks, members to which the mner edges of the bunks are pivoted, said members being movable longitudinally of the upper portions of the supports, means for holding said members in raised position, and means for supporting the outer portions of the bunks.

18. A folding tent comprising upright supports, a ridge pole, vertical extensions of the supports movable longitudinally thereof and sustaining the ridge pole, means for holding the extensions raised with relation to said supports, a pair of bunks pivoted to said extensions, and supporting arms extending from the outer portions of the bunks to said supports.

I 19. A folding tent oomprisinglegs pivotally united at their upper ends, uprights movable vertically with relation to the legs, means for holding the uprights in raised position, a pair of bunks pivoted to the lower portions of the uprights and to the legs, a second pair of bunks pivoted to the uprights above the first pair, supports extending from WALTER R. DIEI-IL.

Witnesses:

J. M. Nnsnrr, ALBERTA REAHARE). 

